by Izzy Hunter
CHAPTER SEVEN
In the lobby of the hotel, Woods stood talking, amicably it looked like, with the Fixer who’d chosen a grey suit and matching cloak and hat. In his hands was an ebony cane which he leant on. Woods looked plain in comparison, still dressed in the same clothes as before but at least he’d had a shave, evident by the red spots around his jaw and neck.
As Hubert returned to his master’s side, the Fixer turned from Woods and greeted Mona with a wide, toothy smile. He started to compliment her on her appearance but the words left his mouth as he noticed Sam come into view. Mona watched with bemusement as the Fixer ran a hand across the brim of his fedora, and a tongue across his thin, pink lips. Sam was in trouble.
‘Ready?’ the Fixer asked Mona, still gazing at Sam who’d realised he was the focus of the china man’s attention, and was staying quiet and looking everywhere but the Fixer.
‘I think so,’ Mona responded, patting down her dress. Sam had edged nearer her, probably to keep a safe distance from his admirer, but their arms touched and Mona, still tingling from their earlier conduct, felt a sudden frisson of excitement and moved her arm out of his way.
‘I said, who is your friend?’ the Fixer was asking, bringing her out of her reverie.
Mona took the opportunity to lose the close contact with Sam, as she made the introductions. She moved across to stand next to Woods. ‘Oscar, this is Samuel, someone who travelled with us from No Hope. He helped us find the young boy we were looking for.’
The Fixer held out a hand and smiled. ‘A pleasure to make an acquaintance of the lovely Mona’s,’ he said.
Sam grabbed the man’s hand and shook it firmly. ‘How d’ya do?’ he said curtly, wearing a curious expression as he looked at Mona and mouthed ‘Samuel?’ at her, which she ignored.
The Fixer slowly took back his hand, still gazing at the man. ‘Oh, what a powerful grip,’ he said, delighted. ‘I imagine you’re just rippling with muscles under those clothes.'
Sam wore such a conflicted look that Mona had to look away for fear of laughing. Now the shoe was on the other foot, and Sam was on the receiving end of unwanted attention. And then Sam did something that surprised everyone - including the Fixer - and offered his arm to the man. ‘May I escort you out, Oscar?’
Grinning, Oscar nodded and, like the cat that got the proverbial cream, took hold of Sam’s proffered arm. The two men led the party out of the hotel.
‘Dear god, he’ll try his luck with anyone,’ Woods said disapprovingly, following behind with Mona.
Outside, the street was submerged in a soft glow from an electrical lantern attached above the main door of the hotel. And the hotel was not the only building with these artificial lights; every building in the street had the same, casting their glows on the ground in front of them. Mona wished they had something like this back in No Hope. They currently had gas lamps dotted around the place but she believed Sanders was working on something.
Assuming they would be walking to the theatre, Mona frowned as Hubert stepped in front of the foursome and opened up the contraption sitting on the road outside the hotel.
From first glance, it looked like a typical horse-drawn carriage, except that where the horses should have been was what looked like the face of a train, complete with a tall, chimney-like protrusion on top. Mona had never seen anything like it in her life. She had thought Northam’s airship was at the cutting edge of technology. Evidently not.
The Fixer climbed aboard first and then Sam disappeared inside. Woods stepped aside and beckoned Mona to go before him. She thanked him and, lifting her skirt with one hand, climbed the step into the carriage. The Fixer and Sam sat next to one another.
‘It’s like a carriage and train have been married together,’ Woods said, in awe, peering out the window towards where Hubert was stepping up to the driver’s seat, which was situated in front of the chimney.
‘That is exactly what it is, my friend,’ the Fixer told him genially. ‘With a few minor adjustments, of course.’
‘Is this the only one?’ Mona asked.
The Fixer nodded, both hands leaning on the top of his cane. ‘For the moment, but I am planning to make a fleet of them. They are the future, mark my words.
Mona had to admit she was impressed. Perhaps the Fixer had been telling the truth. Perhaps he was becoming a law-abiding citizen, after all. From her vantage point, she watched Hubert pour a shovel of coal into the large square section in front of his seat. He repeated the motion a couple of times, and then Mona caught sight of one or two orange embers rise from where the coal was being shovelled.
‘How far does it go?’ Sam enquired.
The Fixer gave him a wink, and briefly squeezed his knee. ‘All the way.’ His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
‘Maybe Oscar can give you a ride tomorrow, Sam,’ Mona suggested, her eyes still gazing at Hubert.
‘Oh, that would be nice,’ Sam replied. ‘But I do believe we are due to leave for No Hope tomorrow morning.’
‘Myself, Mr Woods here and the Reedus boy are,’ Mona answered innocently. ‘But you don’t need to return with us. I’m sure Oscar would take very good care of you.’
‘Oh, I would indeed,’ said the Fixer.
‘Very kind of you, Oscar,’ Sam said, trying a different tack. ‘But I need to return to No Hope. You see, there’s this woman who’s captured my heart and soul. Now, she lives in No Hope so I have to go back and find out if I even have the tiniest chance with her.'
‘How romantic,’ the Fixer exclaimed, clutching a hand to his bosom.
‘How pathetic,’ said Woods, glancing from Sam to Mona, and back again.
Mona finally looked at Sam, who just grinned at her and looked out the window again. If he did go back to No Hope with them, would Sam cause trouble for her and Henry? Yes, she decided, he would. If Henry ever found out about that kiss then she would lose him forever. Sam couldn’t get aboard that ship. She would need to speak to Northam, get him banned, or something.
The steam-powered carriage shuddered into life and everyone settled in their seats as it began moving, slowly at first but gradually picking up speed until it was as fast as being pulled by galloping horses.
When they approached the theatre but showed no sign of slowing down as surprised pedestrians dashed out the way of the vehicle, three faces turned to the Fixer, the same question etched into their frowns.
The Fixer looked amused. ‘We have plenty of time,’ he explained. ‘I thought we could ride around the area for a few minutes.'
‘It’s certainly faster than I would have thought,’ said Woods. ‘My stomach feels as if it wants to leap out of my mouth.’
The Fixer looked alarmed at this piece of information. He raised his cane and rapped on the ceiling above. ‘Slow down, Hubert!’ he yelled. ‘Stop when we reach the theatre again.’
The contraption did reduce in speed considerably. The Fixer visibly relaxed. ‘I’m sorry but I don’t want anyone being ill on here.’
Woods whispered to Mona. ‘I just meant I had butterflies in my belly, that’s all,’ he explained.
The theatre came into view again, and the horseless carriage crawled to a stop by the front entrance where a small crowd of people were entering. Most turned to look at the strange vehicle with mild curiosity. Hubert stepped down from the driver’s seat and reached up to open the door. The Fixer left the vehicle first, then turned back to help Mona down. Woods followed her but Sam had already opened the door on the other side and descended the steps, coming round to join the others.
Making sure everyone was present and correct, the Fixer took Sam’s arm and the two men swept towards the theatre. Sam glanced round to give Mona a helpless look but she looked away, instead taking Wood’s arm and joining the other theatregoers as they entered the building.
The Fixer, still holding onto Sam, found them some seats near the back of the auditorium. Mona had assumed that they would be sitting near the front but it wasn’t that far from the
stage, so she took a seat on the last row. The Fixer sat on the chair next to her with Sam occupying the seat on Oscar’s other side. Woods took the seat on Mona’s left, and all four were ready to be entertained.
As the other attendees found seats and the place filled up with people and chatter, a well-dressed man with a dirty-blond handlebar moustache came up and stood next to Woods. But the newcomer didn’t appear interested in the former teacher, more intent just to glare at the Fixer.
The Fixer was busy looking the other way, talking animatedly to Sam, so it was only the sound of the man coughing deliberately that caused the Fixer to turn round. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the moustached man. He bowed his head in acknowledgement. ‘Señor Palcari,’ the Fixer said dryly.
‘Mister Tudor,’ the Italian replied, a wary glint in his eye. ‘Do what do we owe this pleasure?’ he asked.
The Fixer looked at Sam, Mona and Woods, in turn, then back at Palcari. ‘Why, I wanted my guests to have a good night during their stay in New Moray, and where else should I have taken them but this magnificent theatre?’
Palcari stared at the Fixer, then seemed to realise he was being watched, and began grinning as he looked over the three guests. ‘Well, I hope you enjoy tonight’s performance.’ He glanced down at the pamphlets in his hand, and handed one each to the four of them.
‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Mona read out loud.
‘Si, Señora,’ said Palcari. ‘I thought it was about time we staged some of Shakespeare’s work. It’s the first night, too, hence why we have such a full house -’ He was cut off from saying any more by one of the scantily-clad girls from earlier, who rushed up to him.
‘Antonio,’ she said, in a Texan drawl. ‘Maisie and Lola are fighting again. You gotta come stop them!’
Palcari gave a weary sigh, then made his excuses and followed the girl quickly out of the auditorium.
Eventually there was a decrease in sound as the lights in the theatre dimmed. Once the place was in relative darkness, Mona heard a voice whisper in her ear. ‘I think it would be a good idea for you and your friends to slip away during the interval.’ Mona looked at the Fixer but he just sat back in his chair and began applauding as the curtain rose. As the play began, Mona soon let the Fixer’s veiled warning slip from her mind, only remembering when the curtain closed again for the half-time break.
‘I think I need to stretch my legs,’ Sam declared, getting to his feet. He slipped past a still-seated Fixer who stole a glance at Sam’s close rear-end as he passed by the others, and reached the aisle where dozens of other audience members had the same idea. ‘Anyone care to join me?’ he asked, directing his gaze at Mona.
She shook her head and then took a deep interest in the state of her fingernails. Sam seemed to take the hint and walked off. Woods followed soon after, mumbling somewhat apologetically, that he needed the little boy’s room.
As soon as they were left alone, Mona rounded on the man. ‘What are you up to, Oscar? Why do you want us to leave?’
‘Because if you don’t,’ he replied, fixing her with a steady look. ‘It will simply be too late. Hubert.’
Mona frowned until she realised the small man had been standing at the end of the aisle. Upon hearing his name, and with surprising strength, he lunged towards Mona and pulled her up from her seat. His grip was tight and Mona began to fight it, shouting at him to let go, but it was like the small man’s hands were welded to her arms. She could only glare at the Fixer as Hubert dragged her out of the theatre.
In the foyer, it was crowded with people but they all moved out of the way as Hubert and Mona headed for the exit doors. Mona caught sight of Sam lurking nearby. But she didn’t have to say anything. He read the situation correctly and followed them out of the building.
‘Where you going with the lady, little fella?’ he said, walking alongside Hubert as they crossed over to a small grassy area.
‘None of your business,’ Hubert answered gruffly, as he finally let go of Mona with a shove that sent her nearly sprawling to the ground. Only Sam’s quick reaction prevented her from doing so, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. She moved quickly out of his grip and stared at Hubert, who was regarding the theatre with an expectant look on his face.
‘What’s your boss up to, Hubert?’ she demanded, still affronted by being manhandled. ‘He’s planned something, hasn’t he?’
And the answer came with an almighty blast erupting from the theatre, that threw all three to the ground.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mona felt as though her ears had stopped working and her throat had been cut by an amateur. Her wrist was hurting too, and she opened her eyes to find someone’s legs lying over it. She tried to think of why she was currently lying askew in the middle of the road, deaf and aching but for a few minutes she worriedly couldn’t.
And then a face, bloodier and ashen than she remembered, appeared above her. His voice was distant and muffled, despite the close proximity, but she could tell he was shouting. Slowly but surely, as the man continued, his eyes searching her face for some sort of recognition, Mona’s hearing returned.
‘-sake, say something, woman,’ he was saying in exasperation. ‘Come on, you’re not usually lost for words. Right, if you don’t start speaking right now, I’m going to kiss those sweet lips of yours in front of everyone.’
‘Do that, Sam, and I’ll cut your balls off,’ she managed to say. ‘Can you get this guy off my arm?’ She moved her head towards where her arm was trapped and realised it wasn’t a leg but a long piece of jagged wood. As Sam shifted round to lift the thing away, Mona watched him as her memories came trickling back, though some things were still hazy. She thought he had threatened to kiss her before but couldn’t be sure. ‘Oh jesus,’ she exclaimed suddenly as she claimed back her arm, and tried to sit up. ‘The theatre!’ Sam was by her side in an instant and helped her to wobbly feet. She looked past his shoulder and baulked at what lay before her.
The once impressive, two-level theatre was now a wreck. The main doors were, miraculously, still standing as was the right hand side, but everywhere was engulfed with flames; an orange glow against the black night. People were either sitting around, stunned or injured, while others stood watching the flames, helplessly. A group of about twelve or so people were passing buckets of water along a line, and throwing the contents into the fire. As Mona watched, more and more people set up similar lines around the building and more buckets of water were passed along.
‘Goddamn,’ Sam said softly, next to her, watching the blaze.
Mona frowned. ‘Woods, where’s Woods?’ she asked, beginning to panic.
Sam met her enquiring gaze for a moment then scanned the area and shook his head. ‘Sorry, I can’t see him. He might still be in there.’
Mona exhaled deeply and watched the amateur firemen as they continued throwing water over the flames. She prayed the ex-teacher was anywhere but inside the building.
A couple of figures appeared from the ruins, stumbling over fallen masonry. At once, Mona ran towards them, hoping that Woods was one of them. He wasn’t there but, nonetheless, Mona helped the man and woman to safety, and saw them sit on the ground as they coughed up the smoke they’d inadvertently inhaled. She made sure they weren’t seriously injured then returned to Sam who was in the middle of taking off his jacket.
‘Here, hold this,’ he told her, bunging the leather jacket into her arms.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘I’m going in,’ he said firmly. ‘Apparently, there’s still people trapped in there.’
‘You’ll get yourself killed,’ said Mona.
‘I’ll be fine,’ he said dismissively. Then he cocked an eyebrow at her. ‘Been in worse situations than this.’ He tried a grin but it didn’t last long. ‘Still, if I’m not to come back, I sure could use a last kiss from a beautiful woman.’ He paused, watching for a reaction but Mona had already returned her attention back to the fire. ‘Oh well,’ he said with a sigh, a
nd moved off.
Mona reached out a hand and grasped his arm. Holding his gaze for a second she gave him a brief but very thorough kiss. Stepping away, Sam smiled and headed for the building. Mona watched him go, confused. That kiss had felt... familiar.
A mix of emotions overcame her as Sam neared the building but before he could disappear through the miraculously still-standing doors, another figure emerged from the burning building. This one was carrying something in their arms. As they came under the glow of the flames, the figure and its bundle became clearer; Woods and an unconscious Matthew Reedus.
Mona reached Sam and they both ran over to where Woods was gently placing the boy down on the ground.
‘Find something for his head,’ Woods ordered, glancing up at them for the briefest of moments.
‘Here, use this,’ said Mona, kneeling by them and placing Sam’s jacket underneath the boy’s head. This close, she could see bits of tiny grit embedded in Matthew’s reddened skin. He didn’t appear to have been too near the blast, so that was something.
As Woods set to work, clearing the airway and then alternating between pressing on Matthew’s chest and breathing into his mouth, Sam got down on his haunches and regarded the boy.
‘He was a good little actor,’ he remarked sorrowfully.
‘Is,’ Mona corrected him. ‘He’s not dead.’ This was a statement of fact in her mind. She had not come this far for the kid to die on her, just like that.
‘My apologies,’ Sam said. ‘Is a good actor.’ He looked around and sighed. ‘I just can’t understand what happened.’
Mona stared into space, wondering if she should tell the two men about the Fixer’s warning. Either way, she would be seeking out the china man.
